2028 Cultural Program for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Framework

From 2026 to September 2028, the DCA will work with its partners to activate a citywide Cultural Program for the Olympic and Paralympic Games that celebrates Los Angeles’s cultural richness. Building on its extensive network of grantees, community contacts, and its partners, DCA will engage at least 150 artists, cultural organizations, and community partners representing Black, Indigenous, Latinx/e, AANHPI, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, and other historically marginalized communities. 

These partnerships will involve varying levels of commitment to maximize engagement—from direct programming and grant funding to partial support, tiered levels of affiliated initiatives, and coordinated programming—all unified through common branding, publicity, and cooperative outreach efforts. The program will begin in 2026 with outreach and partnership-building, move into project development and production in 2027, and culminate in a vibrant showcase of events, exhibitions, and performances during the 2028 Games, positioning Los Angeles as a global cultural capital rooted in local stories and voices.

Key Partners: 

Local artists, arts/cultural organizations, arts/cultural institutions, grassroots and community-based organizations, cultural festival producers, philanthropic partners, private partners, neighborhood councils, and City offices/departments.
 

From 2026 to 2027, the DCA will present 15 Youth and Family Arts Access Days—at least one in every Council District—offering free arts workshops, education programs, and performances that prioritize participation by youth, families, and people with disabilities. The program will launch in 2026 with planning and targeted outreach in partnership with LA28, LA County, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), and City Departments, ensuring equitable geographic coverage across Los Angeles. Events will be held throughout 2026 and 2027, reaching a minimum of 6,000 residents, and building momentum for expanded public engagement activities that will continue through 2028 as part of the Cultural Program’s citywide celebrations.

Key Partners: 

LA28, LA County, LAUSD, LA Public Library, LA Department of Recreation and Parks, community youth organizations, philanthropic partners, and private partners.

From 2026 to 2028, the DCA, in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office of International Affairs, will formalize at least five partnerships with international cultural entities representing multiple continents—such as consuls general, arts councils, and cultural institutions—through Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) or partnership agreements. These partnerships will emphasize broad global representation.

Partnership development will begin in early 2026, alongside the cultivation of local collaborations with Los Angeles–based cultural organizations, venues, and community partners to co-host, support, and amplify international exchanges. Implementation of international artist exchanges and collaborations will begin in 2027, with at least three completed by the Games period. Collaborative works and cultural presentations—developed through both international and local partnerships—will be featured during the 2028 Cultural Program, strengthening Los Angeles’s global visibility while deepening connections across its local cultural ecosystem.

Key Partners:

Mayor’s Office of International Affairs, Los Angeles Consular Corps, local universities, museums, arts/cultural organizations, artists, embassies, local/global arts networks, philanthropic partners, private partners, and corporate sponsors.

From 2026 to June 2028, the DCA will allocate at least $4 million in combined public and private grant funding to support Olympic and Paralympic-themed programming and community activations led by underrepresented groups, artists, arts organizations, and cultural institutions. Planning, fundraising, and partnership cultivation will begin in 2026, followed by grant distribution and project production throughout 2027. Funded projects will be presented during the lead up to the 2028 Games, generating more than 250 additional paid opportunities for Los Angeles-based artists and cultural workers, and leaving a lasting economic impact on the City’s creative sector.

Key Partners: 

Philanthropic partners, private partners, corporate sponsors, artists, arts/cultural organizations and institutions, community-based organizations, workforce development programs, and more.

From 2026 to 2028, the DCA will develop and implement a Green Cultural Events Toolkit to guide sustainable practices for all Cultural Program activities. Toolkit development will occur in early 2026, with adoption across official DCA-led events beginning in 2027. All Cultural Program events in 2027–2028 will incorporate at least two sustainable practices, such as zero-waste policies, renewable energy use, recycled materials, or transit incentives. This commitment will ensure that environmental responsibility is embedded into the Cultural Program from planning through its culmination during the 2028 Games.

Key Partners:

Department of Public Works (Board and Bureaus), Department of Water and Power, Department of Transportation, Metro, Shade LA, community-based organizations, philanthropic partners, and private partners.

Community Activation and Collaboration

• Activate cultural hubs/neighborhoods across all 15 LA City Council Districts through tiers of affiliation and strategic partnerships with artists, arts and cultural organizations, Neighborhood Councils, and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) to deliver locally resonant and responsive programming.
• Provide arts education programming and initiatives, workshops, and cultural exchange opportunities that engage residents, reflect community priorities, and amplify local stories.
• Invest in, and build upon, existing and emerging partnerships through DCA’s grantmaking programs and technical support—deepening collaboration with artists, arts nonprofits, and community-based organizations to ensure long-term cultural infrastructure and sustained community participation.

Inclusion and Accessibility

• Form diverse stakeholder committees in partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture and community organizations to prioritize representation, including but not limited to: artists with disabilities; artists of color (including Indigenous and Native voices); and LGBTQIA+ organizations.
• Ensure all programming is inclusive, accessible, and reflective of Los Angeles’ diverse communities, while providing equitable opportunities for participation.

Live Performances and Public Events

• Present outdoor festivals of varying sizes, ranging from small to large.
• Activate public spaces across the City and utilize private venues through established partnerships to deliver vibrant cultural programming.

Visual Arts and Creative Placekeeping

• Showcase murals, installations, gallery exhibitions, and artist residencies throughout the City.
• Leverage and integrate temporary and permanent public art projects and installations to celebrate and reflect LA’s diverse cultural identity.

Digital and Global Engagement

• Amplify LA’s artistic energy through online platforms, reaching local and global audiences, as demonstrated by the successful Paris-LA Poetry Relay during the 2024 Paris Olympiad.
• Create accessible digital content that embodies the vibrancy of the Olympic/Paralympic experience, sharing LA’s cultural pulse.
• Provide a QR code linking to a cultural guide platform, available throughout the City and prominently displayed at key points of entry—such as airports, transit hubs, and visitor centers—to ensure easy access to programs and events.

Creating Legacy Programs

• Prioritize initiatives that build sustainable cultural infrastructure, strengthen arts ecosystems, and provide continued collaborative opportunities for artists and communities.
• Develop and execute enduring legacy programs that extend beyond 2028, ensuring sustained contributions to Los Angeles' arts and culture sector, examples include: Youth Arts Initiatives designed to foster youth participation in arts programming; an art competition to result in the selection of a City Games logo;  a Legacy Arts Program funded for 28 years post-Games to increase access to the arts for children and youth;  creating paid fellowships and apprenticeships within the arts and cultural sector.

In alignment with the City’s and LA28’s commitment to utilizing existing facilities for Games activities, the Cultural Program will also leverage the City’s arts, cultural, and historic sites.

The Cultural Program will activate the City’s 15 City Council Districts and areas surrounding Games venues, utilizing existing infrastructure like DCA-managed and partner facilities. In collaboration with the Department of Recreation and Parks, Los Angeles Public Library, Department of Transportation/LA Metro, and other City departments, as well as arts and cultural organizations, DCA will program Cultural/Neighborhood Hubs and Community Celebrations, and work with Council Offices to identify community activation locations in each Council District with local partners. Additionally, the Cultural Program will activate the valuable resource of volunteers, integrating their support to enhance programming and community outreach efforts citywide. DCA will also collaborate with LA28 and LA County to ensure a consistent and cohesive "look and feel" across all sites.

Assets

• DCA’s Arts and Cultural Centers, Historic Sites, and Galleries: Utilize DCA-managed arts and cultural centers, theaters, historic sites, and public-private partnership venues, as well as airport public art partnerships, to host Olympic/Paralympic-themed programming. Activities will range from performances and exhibitions to festivals and affordable rental opportunities for related events. Assets managed by other City departments—such as the Department of Recreation and Parks and the Los Angeles Public Library—will also be leveraged to expand reach and accessibility to LA communities. Historic sites and landmarks including the Watts Towers, Hollyhock House (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), El Pueblo de Los Angeles, and City Hall will further highlight the City’s cultural and civic identity for local and global audiences.
• DCA’s Budget Optimization: Strategically allocate DCA’s budget to support cultural programming, events, and projects related to the Olympics/Paralympics.
• DCA’s Grants Program: Encourage grantees to develop no/low-cost Olympic/Paralympic-themed activities and projects for public engagement and develop a new community activation grant category that further invests in collaborative partnerships across disciplines/location.
• DCA Public Art Programs: Integrate Olympic/Paralympic-themed art projects into ongoing public art initiatives, utilizing programs such as the Arts Development Fee program.
• DCA Marketing and Outreach: Enhance visibility through Olympic/Paralympic branding, communications, and audience engagement on social media platforms.
  
  Through performances, festivals, public art, educational programming, and cultural exchanges, the Cultural Program aims to engage audiences across all 15 City Council Districts. It is a shared opportunity to celebrate the City's unique cultural identity, foster civic pride, and amplify the arts as a unifying force leading up to the Olympic Games.
  
  Implementation of the full framework is contingent on securing sufficient funding and resources; as such, elements of the Cultural Program may be scaled based on available resources. The Cultural Program offers various opportunities for external partners to participate, collaborate, and contribute:
• Partner with DCA in presenting or producing events, festivals, and public art initiatives.
• Sponsor Programs: Support cultural events such as the Olympic Arts Festival or Youth Arts Education initiatives.
• Host Cultural Experiences: Create opportunities for local artists, organizations, and businesses to engage with global audiences in neighborhoods and communities across Los Angeles.

Beginning in 2026, DCA will launch a slate of lead-up programming—including Community Celebrations (such as viewing parties), festivals, community activations, and arts education initiatives—to build excitement and engagement ahead of the Cultural Program’s official launch in 2027. These activities will coincide with major global events such as the FIFA World Cup 2026, positioning Los Angeles as a vibrant cultural capital. Public spaces will come alive with programming that reflects the City's diversity—featuring music, dance, food, fashion, spoken word, and street culture—to foster civic pride and cultural celebration on the world stage.

These events may include performances, exhibitions, and neighborhood activations produced through DCA’s grantees, performing arts programs, and strategic partnerships. This phase will also serve as a platform to pilot new ideas, cultivate early audience engagement, and deepen relationships with artists and communities in preparation for the 2028 Games.